We need another 4 or 5 top class players - Torres.

[Le Chef]

got this on VHS

YouTube- Liverpool 5 - 0 Nottingham Forest

I was blessed that night, not only was the football that night a joy to behold, I was sat next to Sir Tom Finney - I'm still not sure what was the greatest highlight.

[SimonNo7]

got this on VHS

YouTube- Liverpool 5 - 0 Nottingham Forest

If only we had games like this recorded on our Sky+ this season

Houghton's goal was superb, Hansen running out of defence with the ball, quick one-two between Houghton and Barnes plus the a winger running into space on the right. When was the last time we saw the current lot do something like that?

The second goal, Beardsley running with the ball before playing a perfect ball for Aldridge running in behind the defenders. Well with the current bunch we have Torres doing the Aldridge bit but no one doing the Beardsley bit. They are all stand still pass the ball, stand still pass the ball.

Third goal scored by the CB Gillespie following a well worked corner. Ours these days rarely clear the first defender and we certainly don't do anything clever.

Fourth goal Beardsley made by Barnes' skill and ability to run and take players on. But having said that watching that goal you see that there are about 3 players moving into space before the ball goes to one of them, Barnes, from Spackman.

The fifth from Aldridge, you think is going to come route one but instead it comes from a midfielder harassing the opposition and nicking the ball but he doesn't just play a simple sideways or backwards pass, no he plays a quick forward ball and then, rather than stopping and thinking 'I've done my job' carries on running forwards into space to receive the return pass before playing the simple ball to the forward who is actually in the area.

Absolute quality and joy to watch again. The other thing about it is, it was all so simple, simple teamwork. What a team!!!!

[reds123]

If only we had games like this recorded on our Sky+ this season

Houghton's goal was superb, Hansen running out of defence with the ball, quick one-two between Houghton and Barnes plus the a winger running into space on the right. When was the last time we saw the current lot do something like that?

The second goal, Beardsley running with the ball before playing a perfect ball for Aldridge running in behind the defenders. Well with the current bunch we have Torres doing the Aldridge bit but no one doing the Beardsley bit. They are all stand still pass the ball, stand still pass the ball.

Third goal scored by the CB Gillespie following a well worked corner. Ours these days rarely clear the first defender and we certainly don't do anything clever.

Fourth goal Beardsley made by Barnes' skill and ability to run and take players on. But having said that watching that goal you see that there are about 3 players moving into space before the ball goes to one of them, Barnes, from Spackman.

The fifth from Aldridge, you think is going to come route one but instead it comes from a midfielder harassing the opposition and nicking the ball but he doesn't just play a simple sideways or backwards pass, no he plays a quick forward ball and then, rather than stopping and thinking 'I've done my job' carries on running forwards into space to receive the return pass before playing the simple ball to the forward who is actually in the area.

Absolute quality and joy to watch again. The other thing about it is, it was all so simple, simple teamwork. What a team!!!!

if rafa leaves/resign/realize that his timei s out and in comes dalglish it will be music to my ears even though the king has been out of management for years.

[SimonNo7]

if rafa leaves/resign/realize that his timei s out and in comes dalglish it will be music to my ears even though the king has been out of management for years.

My heart agrees with you about the King coming in if Rafa did go but my head says it probably wouldn't be a very good idea

[spanky]

a dalglish/ gary mcallister team? the players would definately respond to kenny as manager with mcallister his number 2

[Craig_H]

got this on VHS

YouTube- Liverpool 5 - 0 Nottingham Forest

Look at how many red shirts swarm forward with each attack. Look at how bodies are moving and looking to receive the ball, and how quickly we move the ball and penetrate through opposition defence. No pedestrian, no-movement, sideways and backward passing buildup.

And then look at how we play now.

[Shaggy]

I was blessed that night, not only was the football that night a joy to behold, I was sat next to Sir Tom Finney - I'm still not sure what was the greatest highlight.

I must've seen you on the telly then as I remember well the cameras homing in on him. He said after it was the best football he'd ever seen. Those were the days eh. My problem is I was 10 or 11 and totally took it for granted.

[nineteen]

Look at how many red shirts swarm forward with each attack. Look at how bodies are moving and looking to receive the ball, and how quickly we move the ball and penetrate through opposition defence. No pedestrian, no-movement, sideways and backward passing buildup.

And then look at how we play now.

I was thinking the same thing watching that. The current team could do with watching a few of those clips to see how it's done. Direct, attacking football, players moving forward in numbers, and running at the defence.

Comparing that team to today's, we have many of the pieces: Grobbelaar and Reina, Hansen and Agger, Nicol and Carragher, Aldridge and Torres, McMahon and Mascherano, Beardsley and Gerrard. What we don't have is the Molby and Barnes figures to provide the creative force from midfield.

[Lecter]

some of our posters on this forum will be too young to remember the days when barnes, beardsley and rush tormented opposition defences.

We played amazing football and we won everything. The two are compatible but to say that you want to play decent football takes some balls and courage which isnt the style of rafa.

Might I also add that it takes breaking the British Transfer Record twice in 2 years to create that forward line

The Barnes / Beardsley sides were a joy to watch but they had their flaws ie getting beat by Wimbledon in the 88 Cup Final and blowing the league in the last game of the season in 89 (although in that game they sat back and defended)

Best side I have seen at Anfield was the 78-79 side and even they werent infallible (getting dumped out the European Cup by Forest), they certainly didnt have as much flair as the Barnes / Beardsley sides but on their day I think they are the best side I have ever watched

[Lecter]

I was thinking the same thing watching that. The current team could do with watching a few of those clips to see how it's done. Direct, attacking football, players moving forward in numbers, and running at the defence.

Comparing that team to today's, we have many of the pieces: Grobbelaar and Reina, Hansen and Agger, Nicol and Carragher, Aldridge and Torres, McMahon and Mascherano, Beardsley and Gerrard. What we don't have is the Molby and Barnes figures to provide the creative force from midfield.

Molby struggled to get a game in the Barnes era

The midfield was traditionally Whelan (in the holding / Mascherano role) and McMahon as the attacking midfielder of the 2

Nicol was also a fullback at that time (probably the finest fullback we have ever had)

I think people look back at that 87-88 side and forget just how good some of our players were, they were packed through with quality and some expensive signings

Nicol was superb as was Hansen, we also had either Lawrenson or Gillespie as his central partnership

We had Whelan, McMahon, Molby & Spackman all vying for the central midfield berths

Wide players we had Barnes, Houghton & Johnston

We had Beardsley & Aldridge upfront backed up by John Wark (for 6 months of the season) and Paul Walsh

The following season we went out and signed Ian Rush (after selling Wark & Walsh)

[reds123]

Molby struggled to get a game in the Barnes era

The midfield was traditionally Whelan (in the holding / Mascherano role) and McMahon as the attacking midfielder of the 2

Nicol was also a fullback at that time (probably the finest fullback we have ever had)

I think people look back at that 87-88 side and forget just how good some of our players were, they were packed through with quality and some expensive signings

Nicol was superb as was Hansen, we also had either Lawrenson or Gillespie as his central partnership

We had Whelan, McMahon, Molby & Spackman all vying for the central midfield berths

Wide players we had Barnes, Houghton & Johnston

We had Beardsley & Aldridge upfront backed up by John Wark (for 6 months of the season) and Paul Walsh

The following season we went out and signed Ian Rush (after selling Wark & Walsh)

i totally agree with the quality of that team my friend. what a pity we were out of europe!!!


Also let's not forget that from no.2 to no.11 all those players knew how to score. compare it with today's team!!!

[Lecter]

i totally agree with the quality of that team my friend. what a pity we were out of europe!!!


Also let's not forget that from no.2 to no.11 all those players knew how to score. compare it with today's team!!!

On todays market it would cost at least twice what Rafa has spent to GROSS assemble that side

[carheex]

Maybe we should look at some of the players from Lazio and Udinese (but not Italian ones obviously ), both clubs are just above the relegation zone, which might make some of the players there unhappy. Zarate is the first that comes to mind and Alexis Sanchez also seems a very good young player already...

Absolutely right - where's the sense in buying players from the current world cup holders?!

[PTP]

Absolutely right - where's the sense in buying players from the current world cup holders?!

i see your point, but that world cup was 4 years ago now - who would you take from that starting XI?

GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon
RB 19 Gianluca Zambrotta
CB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)
CB 23 Marco Materazzi
LB 3 Fabio Grosso
DM 8 Gennaro Gattuso
DM 21 Andrea Pirlo
RM 16 Mauro Camoranesi
LM 20 Simone Perrotta
SS 10 Francesco Totti
CF 9 Luca Toni


that was the starting XI - probably take grosso as we are desperate for a left back but then we signed the 'italian international left back' and he turned out ****e - Certainly Zambrotta but he must be about 102, in fact most of the squad is - Possibly Pirlo, again 102

[the rev leeroy brown]

i see your point, but that world cup was 4 years ago now - who would you take from that starting XI?

GK 1 Gianluigi Buffon
RB 19 Gianluca Zambrotta
CB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)
CB 23 Marco Materazzi
LB 3 Fabio Grosso
DM 8 Gennaro Gattuso
DM 21 Andrea Pirlo
RM 16 Mauro Camoranesi
LM 20 Simone Perrotta
SS 10 Francesco Totti
CF 9 Luca Toni


that was the starting XI - probably take grosso as we are desperate for a left back but then we signed the 'italian international left back' and he turned out ****e - Certainly Zambrotta but he must be about 102, in fact most of the squad is - Possibly Pirlo, again 102

out of that 11, even being 4 years further down the line, i'd happily take:

buffon, zambrotta, grosso, pirlo and totti.